After a long week at work, there are few better ways to wind down than by holding an at-home movie marathon.
However, instead of rotting your brain with the latest slapstick comedies, there is a plethora of films out there that can provide a bit of knowledge or at very least, some motivation to slay it on Monday. Hollywood has been giving audiences a glimpse into the lives of cultures and populations around the world for years, but sometimes the most interesting storylines are those closer to home.
Here's a look at nine finance films with real-life inspiration.
'Rogue Trader'
This 1999 British film is based on real-life Barings Bank trader Nick Leeson. The movie had a relatively unsuccessful stint at the box-office, but Leeson's story is nonetheless captivating. At just 25 years old, Leeson, played by Ewan McGregor, lands a job at the prestigious Barings Bank.
He proves himself as a savvy trader and earns a stellar reputation among his clients and colleagues, but one mistake lands him in hot water. One thing leads to another and eventually Leeson is in over his head.
The film, which is based on a book written by Leeson himself, chronicles his rise and fall in the finance world, but in real life, there is a happy ending. Leeson has since returned to the business world working at a debt-restructuring firm based in Belfast. Lesson and his new employer say that his experience with "distress" makes him a prime candidate to help their clients.
'Barbarians At The Gate'
"Barbarians At The Gate" is a made-for-TV gem based on a '90s book of the same name, which explores the $25 billion sale of RJR Nabisco in 1988. In an effort to lift the snack-food company's stock price, then CEO F. Ross Johnson decided to arrange a leveraged buyout, which sparked a free-for-all that eventually saw Nabisco sold to the highest bidder.
What makes the film even more captivating is Johnson's character, who was known on Wall Street as a "Peter-Pan" CEO. Impatient, easily bored and greedy, Johnson makes a compelling main character and an interesting case study for viewers interested in corporate greed.
'The Wolf Of Wall Street'
Perhaps the most talked about film to provide a glimpse into the finance world is Scorsese's "Wolf of Wall Street." Leonardo DiCaprio plays Jordan Belfort, the man behind Stratton Oakmont, an "over-the-counter" brokerage that defrauded shareholders and helped IPO several large companies in the '80s and '90s.
The film follows Belfort's story from his humble beginnings to a time when he had so much money he felt untouchable. The movie's inspiration came from Belfort's own account of that time in his life, a memoir likewise titled "The Wolf of Wall Street."
The film has been criticized for being overly dramatized and for glamorizing Belfort's bad behavior, but he claims the story does his real life justice.
'Boiler Room'
For those who've seen "Wolf of Wall Street" and want to know more, "Boiler Room" is a good choice. The film was made in 2000 and stars big names like Vin Diesel and Ben Affleck. It takes its inspiration from the story of Stratton Oakmont, the same firm chronicled in the "Wolf of Wall Street." While "Boiler Room" doesn't follow a particular true-life story, it is based on a series of interviews with real-life brokers and explores the less glamorous, slimy underbelly of the trading world.
The film has become somewhat of a cautionary tale for those interested in entering the investment space, though it has been criticized for straying too far from reality. While the research that went into the film and its overall message have been praised, many believe that it offers a "Hollywood ending" that doesn't mirror what happened in real life.
'Wall Street'
It would be impossible to talk about finance films without including the classic Oliver Stone movie "Wall Street." Initially intended to take a stab at greed and hedonism on Wall Street, the movie has become more of a recruitment tool for aspiring traders.
The film glamorizes the life of a Wall Street tycoon and has become a cult favorite with several memorable lines and characters. Among those is Gordon Gekko, played by Michael Douglas.
Gekko is based on Michael Milken, a pioneer in the junk bond market who eventually pleads guilty for violating U.S. securities laws, and Ivan Boesky, who gained notoriety after being named in an insider trading scandal in the '80s.
'The Smartest Guys In The Room'
The 2005 film "The Smartest Guys In The Room" is based on a book of the same name, which follows the rise and fall of Enron. The documentary takes a deep dive into what brought the company down in what has become an infamous cautionary case study for business ethics classes around the country.
Featuring interviews with energy traders and famous hedge fund manager Jim Chanos, the movie is packed with great information about a story the public may not have fully understood.
Enron, which rose to become the seventh largest company in the United States, is often dubbed a "good company gone bad," but the documentary makes the case that the firm was a scam from the start.
'Quants: The Alchemists Of Wall Street'
"Quants" is a lesser-known documentary that examines a part of Wall Street rarely seen on the silver screen: mathematics. The film examines how mathematical financial models are made and what their impact has been on the market. "Quants" are the geniuses that find patterns and create models in a small corner of Wall Street that is often unknown, but the film brings their work to light.
What makes the film captivating is the fact that these systems, though practical, were accused of being a catalyst of the 2010 Flash Crash. The film examines how the high frequency trading systems are developed and how they impacted share markets.
'The Pursuit Of Happyness'
In the 2006 film "The Pursuit of Happyness," Will Smith plays the role of Chris Gardner, a down-on-his luck, homeless, medical salesman who changes his career path after meeting a rich man during one of his sales visits.
The film is based on Chris Gardner's own account of his real-life struggles and hammers home the idea that hard work and dedication are the pillars of success.
"The Pursuit of Happyness" puts a positive spin on the world of Wall Street, glamorizing traders' big gains, but leaving out the deception and greed that is often portrayed in movies that follow the lives of successful brokers. All in all, the film leaves the viewer content, as it is more about the story of a man's unbroken spirit than it is about the ins and outs of trading.
'Too Big To Fail'
Based on Andrew Ross Sorkin's book of the same name, "Too Big to Fail" explains just how the financial crisis of 2008 took place. Made by HBO, the film shows how a series of events caused a financial meltdown in the United States and argues that the steps taken by the U.S. government to bail out the banks were necessary ones.
The film has been regarded as a good watch even for those who are unable to understand the ins and outs of what caused the crisis, because it explains the events that took place accurately and simply. However, much like everything else in Hollywood, there is some debate as to how dramatized the events have been and how true the account of what happened really is.
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